A draft here, almost lost. This carriage is still in use around Middleton Plantation. Events are hosted here sometimes, the carriage and big draft horses come out. The big horses live in fields belonging to the plantation.
Photograph taken with OM-1 (1), OM 12-100 f4, finished with ON1.
A series of random photographs taken inside the quarters of the enslaved people that worked in and around the Aiken-Rhett properties.
Charleston, South Carolina.
Note; Photographed with the OM-1 mk2, OM 12-100 f4 lens. Photos developed in Lightroom, Topaz DeNoise, DxO Filmpack.
There are few hills around the Lowcountry, however Middleton has a nice bluff that looks over the Ashley River.
The formal gardens look over the river, and of course large maintained lawns, statues, and ponds. They obviously had a little money.
The final photograph was finished using DxO Filmpack.
The coast is clear !
The lawn mowers were gathered in the barn yard while a scout went to check things out.
Middleton Plantation, Charleston, South Carolina.
Walking through the hedge rows of Camellia’s, without getting lost. The evidence of the cold snap could be clearly seen. However new flowers were out, with more on the way.
I’m not sure how many acres there are of these huge hedges, but it’s enough to get people confused once walking one of the lanes.
Photographs taken with the OM-1 (1), OM 14-42 EZ pancake.
A great place to try out the new (old) lens. Tiny with a little twisty motor zoom. Fun to use, with pretty good results. Ellen gets some great shots with it.
This house considered of nationally significant as a well-executed and preserved example of Adam style architecture. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973.
It was built in 1803, owned by Joseph Manigault son of a wealthy trader and planter, and one of the wealthiest people in North America.
Note; photographed with OM-1 (1), Om12-100 f4, finished with Lightroom, DxO Silver Efex, Topaz DeNoise.
Personally I would have loved to be in this room when it was empty. It looks like a place they used for a temporary storage. Good stuff, but not here.
However, look at the room itself !
This is why I love the old southern homes.
These were from a walk we took earlier today (2/20/2026) when suddenly it was sunny, almost hot, and we needed to get out.
Middleton was built in several phases starting in 1730 and the main buildings (3) completed maybe 1784. Henry Middleton was the President of the First Continental Congress. The formal US government was not in place, the Continental Congress acted as the provisional government during the American Revolution.
Henry was the first President before the first President, George Washington.
Middleton Plantation is the home of the oldest landscaped gardens in the United States. Even now each spring people visit from all over the world (or they did) to view the oldest Camellia garden/plants in the country.
During the US Civil War the federal army had a goal of occupying Charleston since the first battle was in the cities harbor. It was considered the start of the war. The path to Charleston was down the Ashley River, right past several of the large and oldest plantations. Middleton was the first in their path. They burned Middleton, Magnolia, Runnemede, and only skipped Drayton Hall because they were treating small pox patients at the time.
This time of year Middleton is a good place to walk, photograph the farm, or have lunch/dinner in the public restaurant with the produce raised here.
The lawns around the gardens are huge, however they have 30 lawn mowers. A breed of southern sheep that don’t mind the heat and eat everything in their path. That’s why it’s important to close the fence gate as you wander. The oldest US garden is just another buffet to them.
Gates Open !!
